HomeMy WebLinkAbout07092012 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 854
CALL TO ORDER
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The July 9, 2012 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
by Mayor David Seaward.
OPENING CEREMONY
Lt. Louis Tiner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
David Seaward presiding and
Jean Bardarson Christy Terry
Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta
Ristine Casagranda
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Absent — Marianna Keil
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Bardarson/Terry) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The June 25, 2012 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and the June 27, 2012 City Council
Special Meeting Minutes were approved.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Ryan Reynolds Was Recognized For His Service On The Historic Preservation
Commission With A Certificate Of Appreciation.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 855
July Was Proclaimed As National Parks And Recreation Month.
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Certificates Of Appreciation Were Presented To The Homer Electric Association, Mark
Peery And Harvey Ambrose For Their Technical Assistance With The Fort Raymond
Generator Project.
A Certificate Of Appreciation Was Read For The Second Annual Kenai Peninsula
Borough Weed "Smackdown ".
Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated she participated in the Weed Smackdown
at Seward Middle School and it was nice to see parents involving their children to support the
community. The assembly met on the July 3, 2012 in a short meeting to accept and appropriate state
money through the Alaska Legislature. The assembly was required to go through an ordinance
process for each item, including public hearings. Assembly meetings and votes may appear to be
quick and "rubber stamped ", but actually that was because they had already conducted committee
meetings prior to their assembly meeting.
The next meeting would be held on August 7, 2012 and there were several items on the
agenda, including an ordinance for the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board to change all
seats to at -large in an effort to fill all the seats on the board. She hoped to have a resolution of
support from the Seward City Council at the next assembly meeting. There would be state monies
corning through on August 7, 2012, including $1,625,000 for security cameras for borough schools,
$2,000,000 for the new radiation oncology project, and $8,000,000 for Road Service Area Capital "ir
Improvement Projects. The agenda would also include the acquisition of a 150 -acre property along
Salmon Creek which would be left to grow wild as a flood mitigation effort. As ofJuly 1, 2012, the
Lowell Point Emergency Service Area was officially abolished and she wanted to commend
everyone who served on that board since 2003. The Lowell Point Community Council would oversee
the Lowell Point Volunteer Fire Department going forward. The Kenai Peninsula Borough's Sister
City of Akita, Japan was sending a delegation of visitors in late July and would be coming to Seward
to visit Exit Glacier, the Alaska SeaLife Center and to meet with city officials.
City Manager's Report, Jim Hunt stated the following expenditures for between $10,000
and $50,000 were approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting:
• Emergency purchase of a sewer pump for Lift Station #3 for $40,722.
• Change Order for the Library /Museum for $22,412.
The Finance Department began training on their new financial accounting software. Software
planning and configuration would take place over the next few months, including data conversion,
with an expected implementation of January 1, 2013. The existing accounting system software was
still non - functional, but they were continuing to work on bringing the current system back online.
The department was developing a request for proposals for the waste management franchise, and
expected to have the criteria for council's review at the next meeting.
The Teen and Youth Center's Teen Council made over $900 at Dunk Tank and Fourth ofJuly
Sales. The Parks and Recreation Department wanted to thank the Seward Volunteer Fire Department
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 856
for their role in helping the TYC with their Fourth of July booth. The city requested quotes from
three local earthmoving construction contractors to prepare the site at Seward Marine Industrial
Center (SMIC) for dredged material. A pre -bid meeting was scheduled for July 10, 2012 and the bids
were due July 17, 2012. The decision would be made based on the lowest price.
The Annual Consumer Confidence Reports for the city's water system and the SMIC water
system were completed and mailed to all post office box holders with zip code 99664. On June 27.
2012 the Electric Department performed a successful test of the backup generation system in which
all six generators were started up and synced with Chugach Electric for approximately one hour.
Four representatives from Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) were in Seward on July 5,
2012 during Senator Begich's visit. Begich advised the city to view the Coastal Villages project on a
large scale, to think big and long -term. However, it would unfold incrementally and in phases over
the next 15 -20 years. Assistant City Manager Ron Long stated the most encouraging part was
having representatives from CVRF and Senator Begich in person at SMIC looking at the area and
visualizing what the project would look like.
Fire Chief David Squires said there were three individuals removed during the various
races, including a junior, a female and a male runner. The junior racer received treatment in Seward
and the female and male runners were both medevac'd to Anchorage for treatment. He thanked
everyone from the community for their support while they continued to search for the missing Mount
Marathon runner. He said the support they had received was tremendously helpful and he appreciated
everyone's efforts. However, there was no new information on the missing runner. They would be
starting the search again tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Seaward, referring to the Phase 1 blueprint at SMIC, asked if there could be an open house
or community meeting about this project. Casagranda asked about the status of the painting of the
transformers and wondered if it needed to be done in the summer. Foutz said that the painting was
included in the overall generator project, and would be completed by September this year. Valdatta
informed Foutz that the electric lines along the Snow River basin were dragging very near the water.
Mayoral Report, David Seaward stated Chief Squires had been remarkable in coordinating
the search and rescue operation for the missing runner. He thanked the community members and
volunteers for their support, and those who brought in food for the searchers. The missing person's
family was thankful for the community of Seward. He hoped everyone had a good Fourth of July. On
July 5, 2012, he welcomed Senator Begich. Seaward asked Begich if he had any updates on the
potential closure of the Air Force Recreation Campground, and Begich said he would get back to
Seaward on that. Seaward read a letter of congratulations that Begich presented to the mayor for the
citizens on the 100 Anniversary of the city's incorporation.
City Attorney Report, Cheryl Brooking said she did not have a detailed report, but
mentioned that the U.S. Supreme Court had validated the Federal Health Care law.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations - None
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 857
PUBLIC HEARINGS
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Resolution 2012 -048, Approving The Submittal Of The Kenai Peninsula Borough Petition To
Vacate And Recommending The Approval Of The Vacation Of The 200 Foot Number 3 Water
Well Easement Located In The Fort Raymond Subdivision, South Of Sea Lion Drive. Notice of
the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing
was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
Hunt stated Well Number 3 had been officially decommissioned, abandoned and filled, and
according to city code, he was requesting that council give approval for the vacation.
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2012 -048
Motion Passed Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2012 -049, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Grant Agreement With
The Division Of Homeland Security And Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation
Program, And Accept The Total Award $349,982 For The Dairy Hill Drainage Improvement
Project, And Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2012 -049
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve R e
Terry supported this project and believed the completion of this project would make a
positive difference to the residents. She said it would keep one of Seward's escape routes accessible
in a time of flooding. Casagranda said the last time the city received money from the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), there were many things tied to it, and so this made her worry because it
seemed like a lot to stay on top of. Hunt felt it was fairly standard and routine. Public Works
Director William Casey provided some clarification regarding the grant. He said that FEMA was
controlled by DHS, and when the federal government declared a disaster, they set aside a pot of
money which then becomes available for mitigation projects. He said this grant was a good thing and
did not require a match from the city. Valdatta added the last three floods had really done damage in
the area, so this work would help a great deal.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2012 -050, Authorizing The City Manager To Issue A Professional Services
Agreement With CRW Engineering Group, LLC, The Most Qualified, Responsive And
Responsible Proposer, For The Dairy Hill Drainage Improvements Professional Engineering
And Construction Management Services For An Amount Not -To- Exceed $65,975.00, And
Appropriating Funds.
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2012 -050
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 858
Hunt said on Page 32, Section 10 of the packet, the word "sole" would be stricken from the
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final contract.
Motion Passed Unanimous
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
Providence Seward Financial Report for May 2012.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Bardarson offered her condolences to the family of Michael LeMaitre, the missing runner,
and thanked the volunteers for their search efforts. She also thanked the citizens who put together the
Fourth of July festivities.
Shafer thanked the city for repairing Mary Lowell's headstone. She thanked the community
for their efforts to locate the missing runner. It was a tough thing, but she was hoping for a positive
outcome.
Valdatta complimented the Public Works Department for trimming the hedges around the
lagoon.
Terry thanked Ryan Reynolds for his service to Historic Preservation Commission. She
would not be at the next meeting, so she reminded everyone that July 28, 2012 would be Ted Stevens
Day. She said Public Works did a great job with their water /sewer informational reports that went
out to citizens, encouraging everyone to read the information and try to act on some of the tips
included in the information. She thanked Public Works for the great quality of water in our town and
the distribution of the water quality reports. She expressed her concerns for the missing runner and
sent her prayers to his family. Words could not express her concern, but she hoped for a good
resolution.
Long said the delegation from Akita, Japan would be in Seward on July 19, 2012 for a dinner
and would be extending an invitation to the council through the clerk's office.
Seaward thanked everyone for attending and watching the meeting tonight. He asked
everyone to keep missing racer, Michael LeMaitre, and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
City Clerk Johanna Kinney asked for direction from council on whether a support
resolution should be brought forward at the next meeting regarding the borough's effort to make the
seats for the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board at- large.
Council directed the City Clerk to bring forward a resolution of support at the next council
meeting for the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board seats to be changed to at -large
by unanimous consent.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
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City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 Volume 38, Page 859
Sue McClure asked for an update on the
sidewalks on behalf of the senior citizens who had
difficulty with some of them, particularly those south of the post office.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Valdatta said he was impressed that one of the bridges on the Seward highway near the
Wildlife Management Area was repaired in an 8 -hour period.
Shafer asked for an update about the sidewalks at the next meeting, and Terry asked for the
update to also include streets.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (Terry /Shafer) Go into Executive Session to discuss
matters pertaining to pending litigation of
Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance vs.
The City Of Seward and give direction to
the City Attorney.
The City Attorney, City Manager, and Assistant City Manager were invited to be present for
this executive session.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council Recessed at 8:08 p.m.
Council Resumed at 8:10 p.m.
Council went into executive session at 8:10 p.m.
Council came out of executive session at 8:24 p.m.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
July 9, 2012 volume 38, Page 860
ADJOURNMENT
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The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
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J anna Kinney, CMC David Seawar
ity Clerk Mayor
(City Seal)
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